Methods and arrangements for carrying out postcard billing operations and the like



Oct. 18, 1955 J. B. LINDON 2,720,333

METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING- OUT POSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet l l IETUIN POSTAGE BUAIAN'ED r. c. wx no. m stm rosv omzs, lloonm, N. v.

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METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYIN". OUT POSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 MB of' Posr CARD MA TEE/A1.

Wee CARRY/N6 EVERJE Cnkao/vkw MAIN Posr CARD AREA Quan-Jn@ ZMoolr/ED TY WHEELS Oct. 18, 1955 J. B. I INDON 2,720,333

METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT POSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 13,

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METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT POSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. l5, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mL, l

.wdmml Maik Oct. 18, 1955 J. B. LINDON 2,720,833

METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT POSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 13,

United States Patent O METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRY- ING OUT PSTCARD BILLING OPERATIONS AND THE LIKE Joseph B. Lindon, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to Cotisatidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August i3, 1954, Serial No. 449,636 12 Claims. (Cl. 14H- 93) This invention relates to methods and means for printing information on one surface of a sheet or card, for example gures denoting quantities and charges therefor to be billed to a customer, while substantially concurrently or as a part of the same operation, printing other information, such as the customers name and address, on the reverse surface of the sheet or card.

'Ihis application comprises a continuation-impart of applicants copending application Serial No. 335,094, filed February 4, 1953, now abandoned, and the benefits of the filing date of that application matter hereof common to that application.

The invention is particularly adapted, among other possibilities, for use in connection with accounting machines as set up to print bills for gas and electricity or other purposes on postcards, while as a part of the same operation, printing the name and address of the customer on the reverse surface of the card.

lt has become common practice for some utility companies, among other types of organizations, to use accounting machines for printing bills to be sent to their customers on the back surface of postcards or on a continuous web which is separable into individual cards which will be mailed as postcard bills. 'Ihat is, stacks of punched record cards are fed into such accounting machines, such cards having punch holes arranged to identify the customer and other punch holes representing the previous and present meter readings or other quantities, and the machine, upon sensing such perforations, automatically types out on the desired postcards the corresponding information, together with the charges to be made, including the total charge as computed by the machine. Such information is printed on what Will herein be referred to as the back surfaces of the postcards, and in order to print the names and addresses of the customers on the front surfaces of such cards as required, it has been the usual practice to run the cards through the accounting machine again (or through another accountng machine) as a separate operation, while the stack of cards bearing the punched holes indicative of the names and addresses are being fed through the machine. This practice not only requires using the accounting machine for a substantially longer time to print a given number of bills, but also incurs the possibility that the correct names and addresses of the customers will not be applied to the proper bills.

With the present invention, a method is provided Whereby standardized well-known types of accounting machines may easily be set up and arranged to print the name and address on the front of the cards during the same operation While the bill data is being printed on the back of each card. Thus the making out of each bill and the addressing of same may be accomplished on the same machine during an interval of time which is little longer than heretofore required for typing the bill Without addressing same, and the dangers of addressing bills to the wrong customers are substantially eliminated. Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, these advanare claimed as to all subject f tages, if desired, may be accomplished without altering the usual construction of certain Well-known types of electrically operated accounting machines, except to the extent of simply replacing certain of the type bars or type wheels by others with a modied arrangement of letters and figures thereon. Such accounting machines are customarily provided with numerous interchangeable plug and socket connections on a control panel or plug board, whereby the holes on the punched cards as sensed by the machine will properly actuate the accounting mechanism and operate the desired type wheels or type bars in a proper manner for translating the punch holes into typed information with the typing arranged in the particular manner and place desired on the resulting printed web or postcards. It will also be necessary in carrying out the invention to make certain rearrangements of the plugs in such plug boards for reasons hereinafter explained, but this may readily be done by the machine operators without any structural changes on the standard accounting machines. Furthermore, these objects may be accomplished While operating the accounting machine to its full advantage in printing the billing data.

In carrying out the novel method, either cards on which the bills are to be printed are fed through the accounting machine, or a continuous web separable into the individual postcard bills, is fed through the machine. The billing data is printed on the back surfaces of the cards or web at any preferred locations and in the usual way. But the cards or webs as they pass through the machine are backed up by a sheet having what will be termed reversed carbon areas contacting those local areas on the front of the cards or webs Where the customers names and addresses are to be printed, or instead a reversed carbon ribbon or strip may be used with a suitable accompanying masking strip having apertures at proper intervals enabling only the name and address impressions to be imprinted on the front of the cards. And certain of the type on the type wheels or type bars on the machine, which are to strike against the back surfaces of the cards or webs at the name and address areas, are formed with the letters of the alphabet as Well as the numerals 1 to 9 inclusive, shaped in accordance with the mirror image or reverse of the orthodox type customarily used for ordinary printing of such letters and numerals, and hence when the particular type so shaped strikes against the back surfaces of the cards or Webs, the impressions will be transmitted therethrough with the result that the above-mentioned reversed carbon areas (or reversed carbon ribbon) cause the corresponding letters and numerals which are to represent the customers name and address, to be printed for reading in the usual way on the front surfaces of the postcards. The plugboard is also so rearranged that the punched card holes which control the actuation of such altered type, will do so in a manner whereby the name and address characters as printed (in reverse) on the back of the postcards, will run from right to left, but the carbon impressions thereof as read normally on the front of the postcard will be readable in a normal Way from left to right.

The reversed carbon ribbon or strip is preferably continuous in form and may be driven in various Ways to pass around the platen or a separately driven portion thereof, and to advance the ribbon from time to time as necessary when each address area comes into position, so that the type impacts do not repeatedly impinge upon the same particular areas of the carbon but the carbon is progressively advanced so that all areas thereof progressively are eiciently used, in a Way similar to the case of typewriter ribbons.

The invention in one of its forms also may include means for masking the usual ink ribbon of the machine or shifting such ribbon to bring an uninked portion there- Y nous web and having` type Y name and address characters 'Y address characters are being printed so that the name and address impressions will notybe printed or show on the backs of the cards, Ybut onff;7 on the fronts thereof in the form of carbon impressions. Y

- Theinvention will be described as applied to ain accounting machine 'of the form which prints on Va contin-4 Y wheels, and. whichris providedwith t-ype for the complete alphabet yas WellfasA numerals and the customary arbitrary signs` (such .as l,4 eter), for example such as the widely-'used 407 type International Business Machines Corp. accounting machiite.Y But itfwill'be understood 'that theinven'tion `is equally applicable for usein-connection with Vaccounting. machines of the Vtype whichhave vertically reciprocating barsins'tea'd of type-w n eels, The invention may also be applied to Vinin'ier'ous V'o'tltier jforzns of machines byappropr'iately changin'gfs'omeo VYthetype, or to machines of the form which printt-he Vcharacters 'from reeds or The Vltype wheels, type 'bars or other character forming" elements, -will be herein sometimes referred to as'typecarriermeans ori members. f Y

Oftentirnes someof the billing numeralsfas printed on the'backfsurface of a lpostcard. preferably will be'vertically in alignment 'withfthe location of kcertain 4ofthe (including housenu'mbers) which are to be typed on the front of the vcard, and accordingly the sameused` forboth purposes ifi-standard forins of machines are to be: used. Yet, the numerals of thel billing data willSha-ve to be 'of-orthodoxtype, whereas the numerals for printing the house numbers have lto be of said mirror image or reverse VYtype. This dillicult-y may be readily e overcome in adapting vthe invention to the above-mentioned. 407 form of accounting machine among others, by using new or substitute typev carrier -mernbers on Which- Vthe billing.v datanumerals remain. in standard 'form at the customary places foroperation-in conjunction with the 'accountingmechanismin the'usual way, whereasfall of Ythe alphabetical characters on the new typeV carrier members-are of the reverseu'northod'oxform, although in type carrier means will have to beV the standard locations, and nine ofthe arbitrary sign type Y elements are replaced by` reversed or 'unorthodox numerals l-9 inclusive, for printing-'the house numbers.

Other andfmorespeciii'c'objects, features andY advantagesof theV invention ywill appear: from the detailed description given below, taken in connection -with the accompanying drawings which formV a` partjof this-specification andrillustrate th'enovel features of thefinve'ntion in one ofA its'preferred embodiments. v

In` the drawings: Y Y f f Y Fig. Vlis a View of the fron "surface offa typicallpost cardI bill Vwith theV customersinam'e and address printed in accordance with. the invention; Y.

Fig. 2 illustrates the bachy surface of the same bill. The name andaddress characters are here shown on a cross-hatched 'area (in. reverse).l but'with Vone example of the invention such cross-hatching andreversefprinting are avoided on the b ack ofthe card;Y

Fig. 3 isa somewhat schematic perspective View illus-` trating. Aportions. of 'an accountingY 'machine and "one method of carrying out` the. invention;

Fig. 4 is a spacing charts'howing direct impressions from all of the type ofall of the typewhe'els of the above-mentioned 407 form of accounting machine, but with certain ofthe `standard typeY Wheels replaced by others carrying a modified form andarrangement of type for carrying out the invention; Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the exterior of one of the above-n1entioned407V type of accounting machines; Fig. 6 is an end view somewhat schematically showing the feed unit for such a machine,rfor-feeding,the punched cards and reading sameV to `actuate the' accounting ma chine;

Fig. 7 is a verticalfsectional view, sehematically-show-- 4 Y ing parts of apparatus such as shown in Fig. 3 but illustrating a modilied embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view partly broken away and schematically showing further details of the embodiment of Fig. 7.

The well-known 407 type `of accounting machine, as

above referred to, and as will be noted from the exterior l ventional features of this type of machine, neednot be furtherdescribed as same Varewell known.l Y Y The typical` postcard bill, `typed in accordance with theinvention as shownin Flg. l,- has, asV will be noted, thev customers name and address appearing on'the frontfsurface in the usual Way, except that lthe Vtyped characters are formed of carbonA orV the like 4applied `from the above-mentioned reversed carbon sheet. areas or strips, as the vresult of the above-mentioned unorthodox type impressions which have been Vtransmit-ted through'the card. The left hand end portion of the card, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a tab which is detachable along-a perforated line bythe customer for return with Vthepayment of the bill. This tab ybearsV certain mark sensing zones for accounting purposes and which vform no part of the present invention. I'

It will be noted that the back surface of'thetypicalpostcard bill shown in Fig. 2, has, in addition=tothe cornpany name and other notations initially" printed-Yon theform, four horizontal typed-in lines ofbilling data, .the rst such line exhibiting the date and certain account number data, the second line 'giving the electric meter readings etc. and the'corresponding char-ge for the'eleetricity, lthe third typed line givingithe' -gas meterread-V ingsand corresponding-charge, while the fourth of; such lines gives the totalV charge as added onthe accounting machine. Certain ofthis data is Vrepeated on the detach-V able return tab. These four lines'of referred to, are all typed by the aecountingmachine 'operating in the. conventionalV way as heretofore. Forex ample in the typical case there may be'two punche'decards (in some cases a larger number) for each customerfone of which bears punch holes identifying the customer along-with other holes representing the data for` the electric bill, while lanother punched card has holes also identifying the same customer and; other Vholes representing the data for the gas bill, and whentherbillingV data from both of these punched' Vcards has been sensed by the machine and typed out, the machine will automatically type out thertotal charge.

VMachines of the above-mentionedV 407` formgamong others, are equipped'withjstorage'facilities for temporarily` Y storing, when desired, selectedV data When certain ofthe holes onV the punchedcards arel the method of the present` inventionfor typing a card as shown in Fig. 2, the machine will'be set up :so as to first sense from one of the punchedcards, theholes representing the "customers 4name and address'and' transmit this information to the storage means Where it remains'stored until the total charge figure is typed. Thejoperationscontrolling Vthe typing Vof thisV total may be used Vwith, such standard machinesV lautomatically'to release Vfrom storage the information Yas'to the customers name and addressand render such information effective to ac tuate thel proper type; carrier meansto then properly type such name and address. On the back side V ofthe card as shown: ill Fig.Y 2, itwillbe noted, thatthe naxneand/,address on the part 0f. the; Card. hasbeenfprintdhr typing as Vthus far-V Y sensed.V In` carrying out masas type of the above-mentioned mirror-image or unorthodox form and running from right to left, the characters being printed in the cross-hatched area to more or less obliterate the same for avoidance of confusion. (Such crosshatching was applied in initially printing the card form and the area thereof might, if preferred, be entirely printed black on the back side of the card form as furnished. Also, as hereinafter explained with one example of the invention, this cross-hatching and reverse printing may be eliminated.) Also the name and address characters are printed on the back side of the detachable tab in orthodox manner reading in the usual way from left to right, this being accomplished by other type wheels with orthodox type controlled by circuits connected through the plugboard in the usual way to actuate such standard type concurrently with the actuation of the unorthodox name and address type. The impressions from the unorthodox type, of course, show through on the front of the card, as indicated in Fig. l, in the form of carbon impressions, readable in the orthodox way and from left to right.

The perspective view of Fig. 3 shows those parts of an accounting machine which are more particularly concerned with the novel features of the present invention in its simplest form. It will be understood that these portions of the accounting machines and equipment and the operation thereof, which are not herein specically shown or fully described, are for simplicity omitted, in view of the fact that standard or conventional practices may be followed in regard thereto.

Referring further to Fig. 3, there are here shown somewhat schematically numerous typical type wheels of an accounting machine, those at the two sides of the machine being of standard or orthodox form, while twentyone of those at the mid-portion of the machine are modied for the purposes of this invention. Itis assumed that the usual name and address will not be long enough to require more than twenty-one type wheels to type same, although in some cases experience may show that a greater or lesser number of modiiied type wheels may be necessary for the purpose. Also in this figure, the platen roll and usual inked ribbon are shown for cooperating with the type Wheels to print on a continuous web of thin paper board or the like, which is advanced in the direction shown by the arrows around the platen roll by sprocket wheels which engage in perforations along the sides of the web in the usual way. Such web is made of appropriate material to form postcards suitable for mailing when sections of the web are separated along the perforated lines shown, after the accounting machine has typed the billing data and the customers name and address on each postcard area.

With the example of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the web of postcard material is backed by a sheet having spaced carbon areas thereon as shown, located at the areas which will correspond to the cross-hatched areas such as shown in Fig. 2, this sheet also being formed with perforations at its edges so that it is fed by the sprockets in the usual way in which carbon sheets may be fed on such accounting machines, except that in this case the carbon areas will face what are to become the front surfaces of the postcards. These carbon areas, as will be noted, are located at areas which will receive impacts from the above-mentioned twenty-one modied type wheels.

In Fig. 4 there is shown the result of forming direct impressions in the usual way on a piece of paper from all of the type of all of the type Wheels of one of the above-mentioned 407 forms of accounting machines of standard construction, except that the middle group, comprising twenty-one vertical lines of typed characters, is in the form obtainable from the above-mentioned twentyone modilied type wheels. The vertical lines of characters as shown in Fig. 4, when read upwardly, show the proper sequence of the type elements on the various type wheels as arranged around on the peripheries of such Wheels, starting with and ending with 0. From Fig. 4 it will be noted that the middle group of twenty-one type wheels of standard form have been replaced by moded type wheels on which nine of the arbitrary signs (viz. @L l= have respectively been replaced by certain numerals (viz. 587614329) of the unorthodox or reverse printing form. The 0 type (in the top line) being readable either way, did not need to be reversed. Also on these twenty-one modified type wheels, it will be noted that all of the normal alphabetical characters have been reversed to the unorthodox form, although remaining in the same relative places as on the standard type wheels. Further it will be noted that the numerical characters, such as on the standard type wheels of this form of machine (from 1-9 inclusive), all remain the same and in the same places on each of the substituted twenty-one type Wheels.

Thus these standard nine numerical characters as well as the zeros, all being located at their conventional positions and being standard in form, may still be used in the conventional way for typing the billing data on the postcards. And since the operating mechanism for controlling the typing of these numerals does not need to be altered, any and all accounting mechanism which is arranged to be operated in conjunction therewith may remain of standard form. On the other hand, the reversed numerical type which is substituted for certain of the arbitrary signs, and also the reversed alphabetical characters, may be utilized to print the numerals of the street addresses and the customers names and the street names, independently of and without interfering with the accounting mechanism which controls the standard numerical characters, so that the latter remain useable as before for typing the bill data. Yet, as will be apparent from Fig. 2, certain of the billing numerals (with the convenient arrangement of the bill there shown) will occur in vertical alignment with certain of the letters and numerals of the name and address which are typed or impressed in reverse on the back surface of the card. And since all of the characters which are thus arranged along one vertical line, must be typed from type mounted on the same type carrier means or member, the above-described modication of the type of each such carrier member, provides an ideal and simple arrangement making this result possible. That is, the arbitrary signs, which are not essential for postcard bills and the like, are eliminated and replaced by the reverse nnmeral characters necessary for address purposes, making it possible to leave the standard numerical characters in standard positions respectively, and operative in the conventional way. Furthermore, the standard orthodox alphabetical characters, not being essential for any typing on the back of the main part of the postcard, are replaced by the reverse or unorthodox alphabetical characters for typing the address in conventional legible form on the face of the postcard while leaving other conventional alphabetical type (which type on the back of the detachable tab in the example shown) all in the conventional positions and form.

The modilied type wheels or type carrier means with type as shown at the mid-portion of Fig. 4, may be quite easily and rapidly installed in place of the usual or standard type carrier members, by the operators of such accounting machines, when it is desired to arrange the machine to practice the present invention therewith; and the modied type carrier members may be readily replaced by the standard members when it is desired to restore the machine to a condition for use for other purposes. However, as above explained, whenever the standard type-carrier members are replaced by the moditied members or vice versa, control circuits therefor at the plugboard of the machine should be altered by rearranging the plugs so that, for example, a given set of punched holes representative of a name and address on Y readingthe name and Vaddress from right'to Y name 'andaddress areas to Y of separable postcard Y Y 12, for return to arstock Vsprocket Yreceiving'perforations along.

' also a roller 21y carriedby aV spring characters''ojfV 'such name and address to 'be 'typed for on thcr'back surface 'ofj'the postcard, whereas when the modified type'wheels are' replaced by those of standard form, "the plugs 4will'be restored to standard positions for typing. characters to be read from left to right when typed inl thejc'onventional wa l.

Referring to the embodiment of the bodies two improved features. ThatY is, iirst, instead of 'usingja web of paper carrying reverse carbon areas, a Vsingle 'relatively narrow carbonLbearing strip may vbe usedyhavinglthereion' a continuous'band of Vcarbon or the like of a width approximating 'the width 'of the desired is advanced in such 4manner 'that Vfrorntime, to time `all offthe'tcarbon' surfaces 'thereon will be utilized instead' of confining the Vuseful parts to `predetermined carbonV areas as 'in the' above-described arrangement of Fig. 3. Secondly, 'the arrangement of Figs. V'7' and 'S4 permits the name Vand address, as imprinted in Yreverse Vtype as per Fig. l, to be elimnated'from the 'back of the 'postcard bills 'so `that no"crosshatched or obscuring arcas or the like need be used on the 'main part ofthe back of the bill. That is, means is the Vback of the card from Athe inked ribbonjat times when the name and Vaddress is being imprinted on the front of the card as shown in Fig. 2. Y

Referring now` to Fig. 7 in further detail, Vthe strip Y bills,'as'indicated'at10, is arranged to 'travel through the machine from a folded stack 10V thereof around the platen rollerV 11, the stri-p'beingV advanced by conventional Thus-"the web of postcard material Ymay be advanced through the machine `in the same wayeas in Fig. 3 and in the conventionalV way in which corresponding vwebsare advanced vthrough machines ofthisftype. Y V

'Underneath the web 10, a masking strip 13-and also the carbon-bearing strip -14 are advanced along withthe web '10,around the platen roll 11. Both this maskingstrip 'and the carbon-bearing stripmaybe formed with both sidesI thereof at the same locations where the perforations` occur inthe postcard web,"so thatv these :strips will be advanced around the platen roll in Vfixed relation tothe web of postcard Vmaterial". (The -righthand portions of web 10 and adjcentl portions of` masking strip are cut away in Fig. 8- for clearness.) The carbon strip is Yrun through the machine with its carbon-bearing surface'facing'the undersideV of the webof postcard material and thetmas'king strip is interposed therebetween and has apertures, as indicated for-example at 16, Fig. 8, at each area corresponding to the name and address arcas `on the successive'` postcard bills., for, example, beformed ofla suitable transparent flexible but preferably non-stretchable cellophane or therlike material and Vacts to maskV the carbon areas on thecarbon strip against touching-the front of the postcards at all areas except the areas which are to bear the names and addresses. Y As Vindicated in Fig. 7, the masking strip 13 which preferably' comprises a continuous band, may run Aover a series otsupporting'rollers as' at 17, 18, 19l and 20, pressed arm 22 for holding-the-strip in- Vsomewhat tensionedV condition. The arrangement of rollers 17Z1, inclusiva, is made such that; the continuous mas `ng Vstrip willhave a total path off travel Vof a length enablingit to be advanced'by the same'sprocket means V12 which advances the postcard web and-with the successivey apertures of the masking strip respectively occurring, .when at the printing position, at the Vname'and address areasonthelpostcard web. The continuous 'reverse:carbon strrprlt'is arranged to pass-over a series ofirollersas4 atr2r4,

left as'v'iewedV t, invention shownV in Figsf7 and 8, Vthe Yarrangement as here shown em-i provided for shielding sprocket means as `indicatedat The masking stripV may,

.25, andrsro as `be printed,V and thisr strip c andof the machine Y operation of printingrthenames and addresses.

to have a total path of, travel such that as each area thereof on successive 'occasionstrarrives onA the printing position,

ceding `cycle of travel, thereby .to .insure that all ofthe ,Y carbon areas Yarelrom'time toxtime economically'u'sed.'V

a'carbonfstrip accompanied by the' Y strip willi prevent 'it from printing anything on thefront of the'postcardstexcept at the desiredl name andV address' areas.

'In order to eliminate the lreverse printing Vofthe names and addresses'on the backs Y screen 30, as best shown` in Fig.. 8', is caused to be ,lowered from a normal position Yto a `position in between the inked ribbon and' the back j'surface of the web of postcardV material whenever v'the latter'web is at a position `forthe The screen 30 may be formed of a suitable `thin cellophanelike material or of a' webbing such as used 'for inked typewriter ribbons but having thereon no This screen maybe retained for example, in vametal frame such as indicatedat 31,'and is 'adaptedto'be raised and t lowered at thev proper times.'Y If desired, the lower portions ofthe ends of Ythis'frame may :have thin vmetal extensions, as at 31a, normally extending fdow'n in back of the inked' ribbon and Vserving as guides for; enabling the screen to slideV in between'the inked ribbon andthe postcard web when desired.

The screen 30 maybe operated automatically by various forms of means to bring samedown into active posi- Vtion whenevera name or address is to be printed; and

so that whenl the type of the modified ytypewheels are actuated the impacts thereof cannot cause `any printing on the backs of the postcards. Yet the screen 30is sufficiently yieldable to transmitfsuch impacts therethrough and through the postcard material to the carbon strip 14,'whereby4 such impacts do -print the name and addrcsscorrectly on the. front surfacesof the cards. VIn the example shown, the screen 30 is operated by Ysolenoid' 32*having its Vplunger connected tothe frame 31. f This solenoid maybe'mounted /on a suitable means such 'as a transverselyY adjustable brackct"33 carried by `a vertically adjustable supporting rod 34; The circuit of' the solenoid is in series with Va switch at 35 as` shown, havingV contacts 35a, 35h adapted to come to-`V gether whenever'an aperture as at 16 occurs therebetween t in the apertured masking strip 13, as will-be readily apparent from Fig.` l8. The solenoid plunger may benormally held in its upper positionV as by a spring '36 butY 35f'b lcome togetherthesole* noidwilljbe actuatedto Vlower the masking screen- 30 to whenever the contacts 35a,l

active position, but only for so'long as portions of a name and' addressarea on the postcard web are located at the printing positions. VThe contact -assembly- 35 may be mounted'on supporting means as at 37'which is adjustable inA directions parallel to the movement of the apertured masking strip '13',"to, thereby adjust `the timing of the operation of the solenoid; Y Y

In some casesthe'rever's'eprinted cross-hatched or obscuredaddressarea, as appears Yin Fig. l on the back oi'thepostcard billfmaybe considered unsightly or confusing but with Vthe `arrangement above-described in con?V nectionfwith'Figs. 7 and 8 this'area is leftblank.

In respects Y'other'than above described, the construction andoperationof the arrangement of- Fig's. 7 and 8 may be the I sarrie- 'as above Fig.' 3, or as with -known'accountingxmachinesof the type shown. Y v Y Although apreferredi embodimentA of the invention is,` Y hercindisclosed fori-purposes of explanation, various other modifications thereof,4 after willie@ @ssamm @there study. of this lspecicatiou,

such area will be either somewhat advanced 'orretarded as` compared with its"location.during its'pre- Yet, notwithstanding'Y of the cards, a masking' j against theY inked ribbon Y described in connection with Y the aft i@ whaha-e Y invention pertains. Reference should accordingly be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Method for preparing postcard bills and the like on an electrically operated accounting machine of the character controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of the billing data and the customers address, to type in one operation billing data on the back surfaces of the postcards and address data on the front thereof, which method comprises: arranging the machine with type carrier means for the particular region where address data is to be typed, With modified typing means for representing address characters shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox type; arranging the control circuits in the machine for said type carrier means for actuating same responsive to sensing said punch holes tortype said address characters as if for reading from right to left; feeding the postcards through the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing the type carrier means and with a strip bearing carbon or the like exposed to and contacting with the region on the front of each postcard Where the address is to be typed; feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to type the billing data on the back surface of the postcards in conventional manner and to cause said modified type means as actuated in accordance with the address data sensed on the punched cards to apply impressions to the back surfaces of the postcards, which impressions are transmitted through the cards to said carbon, which in turn causes carbon impressions to be typed on the front surfaces of the postcards in the form of orthodox characters readable from left to right.

2. Method for operating an electrically actuated accounting machine controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of data to be typed, to type certain of such data on the back surface of a sheet and other parts of such data on the front thereof, which method comprises: arranging the machine with type carrier means for the particular region where said other parts of the data are to be typed, with modied typing means representing characters shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox type; arranging the control circuits in the machine for said type carrier means for actuating same responsive to sensing said punch holes to type said other parts of the data as if for reading from right to left; feeding the sheet to be typed through the machine with the back surface thereof facing the type carrier means and with a strip bearing carbon or the like exposed to and contacting the region on the front of said sheet where said other parts of the data are to be typed; feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to type certain of the data on the back surface of said sheet in the conventional manner and to cause said modied typing means as actuated in accordance with the other parts of said data sensed on the punched card to apply impressions to said back surface, which impressions are transmitted through to said carbon which in turn causes carbon impressions to be typed on the front of said sheet in the form of orthodox characters readable from left to right.

3. Method for preparing postcard bills and the like on an electrically operated accounting machine of the character having data storage means and controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of the billing data and the customers address, to type billing data on the back surfaces of the postcards and address data on the front thereof, which method comprises; arranging the machine with type carrier members for the particular region where address data is to be typed, with modied type representing address characters shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox type; arranging the control circuits in the machine for said type carrier members for actuating same responsive to sensing said punch holes to type said address characters as if for reading l@ from right to left; feeding the postcards through the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing the type carrier members and With a strip bearing carbon or the like exposed to and contacting the region on the frorsof each postcard Where the address is to be typed; feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to type the billing data on the back surface of the postcards in the conventional manner; meanwhile utilizing the storage means of the machine to store the address data sensed from the punched cards until the typing of the billing data is completed, the machine being set to thereupon release` such stored data and to cause same to actuate said modied type in accordance with the address data sensed on the punched cards, to apply impressions to the back surfaces of the postcards, which impressions are transmitted through to said carbon which in turn causes carbon impressions to be typed on the front surfaces of the postcards in the form of orthodox characters readable from left to right.

4. Method for preparing postcard bills and the like on an electrically operated accounting machine of the character having numerous type carrier members controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of the billing data and the customers address, to type in one operation billing data on the back surfaces of the postcards and address data on the front thereof, which method comprises: arrangingV certain of the type carrier members With orthodox numerical and alphabetical type and a plurality of others with a set of orthodox numerical type and also type representing the numerical and alphabetical address characters shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox type; feeding the postcards into the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing the type carrier members and with a strip bearing carbon or the like contacting the region on the front of the postcards Where the address is to be typed; and feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to actuate said orthodox type for typing the billing data on the back surfaces of the postcards in the conventional manner and to cause said modified unorthodox type as actuated in accordance with the address data sensed on the punched cards to apply impressions to the back surfaces of the postcards, which impressions'are transmitted through to said carbon which in turn causes carbon impressions to be typed on the front surfaces of the postcards in the form of characters of orthodox appearance.

5. Method for preparing postcard bills and the like on an electrically operated accounting machine of the character controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of the bill data and the customers address, to print billing data on the back surfaces of the postcards and address data on the front thereof, which method comprises: arranging the machine as if to print, on the back of the particular region where address data is to be located, modified characters representing the address and shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox characters; also arranging the control circuits in the machine to operate responsive to sensing said punch holes to print said address characters as if for reading from right to left; feeding the postcards through the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing the typing means and with a carbon bearing means or the like exposed to and contacting with the region on the front of each postcard where the address is to be located; and feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to apply the billing data on the back surface of the postcards in conventional manner and to cause the typing means which is actuated in accordance with the address data sensed on the punched cards to apply impressions to the back surfaces of the postcards, which impressions are transmitted through the cards to said carbon, which in turn causes carbon impressions to be typed on the front surfaces of the postcards in the form or" orthodox characters readable from left to right.

Y strip located Vat Al1 Y 6. Method for preparing postcard bills andthe like on Yan electrically operated accountingY lmachine of the character VcontrolledV by punched cards yhaving punch holesrepresentative of lthe billing datafand the customf ers address, to print billing data on the back surfaces of Vther'postcards and address data on the front Vthereof, which method comprises: Varranging the `machine as if to print, on the back ofthe particular region where address data is vto be located, modified characters representing the address and shaped as perf the Vmirror image of orthodox characters;V alsov arranging the conltrol circuits in the'machine to operate responsive to sensing said vpunch holes to print said address characters as iffor reading from right to left; feeding the postcards through the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing the Vtyping Vmeans and together with `a strip bearing carbon or `the like facing the front of surfaces ofjthe postcards, whichimpressions are trans- Y mitted through the-'cards and` through the apertures to vsaid carbon, whereby such carbon causes'impressionsA adapted to be actuated by the control circuits of the ma-` of such punch holes to type surface of such sheet in the chine-"responsive to sensing information onto the back form of orthodox characters readable fromleft toright;A

and another plurality of type carrier means also Ahaving 'Y numerical type of orthodox form adapted for lsimilarly to be typed 'on the front surfaces of the postcards in Y the form ofrorthodox 'characters `readable from left to right, the Vmaskingfstrip acting to prevent the carbon from print-ing the postcards.

7. Method for preparing postcard bills and theV like on an electrically 'operated accounting machine Vhaving Van inked ribbonrand accompanying typing 'means -o'f the character ycontrolled by punched cards having punch holes representative'of the bill data and the customeris billing data on the front of the surfaces of Y address, which methodk comprises: Varranging the machine as if'to print, YVon the back ofthe Vparticular yarea where address data is to be typed, 'modified' characters representing the address and shaped as per the mirror image of orthodox charactersgalso arranging the conl sheetsyandmeans'for 'feeding along With'theaccount sheet f trol circuits in the machine toV operate-responsive to Y sensing said punch vholes to print said addressfcharacters as if for reading from right to left; feeding the 'postcards through the machine with the back surfaces thereof facing'the typing means and with a :Eamon-bear-V ing means or the like exposed to and contacting with the region on the front of eachpostcard Where thel address is to be located; and feeding the punched cards through the machine in conventional manner to cause the machine to apply the billing data on theV back surface of the postcards in conventional manner, then inserting a screen between the'inked ribbon and theback of said area Where address data is to be typed, whereby the part of the typing means which isA actuated in accordance with the address data sensed on the punched cards applies impressionsk through the ribbon and screen to the back surfaces of the postcards, which impressions are transmitted throughrsuch cards'to said carbon, which Y in turn causes carbon impressions vto be typed on the front surfaces of the postcards' in the formof orthodox Y address characters readable` from left to right.

8. Vlnan electrically operated Vaccounting*machine ofthe character controlled by punched cards, havingY punch holes representative of data to be typedontoran account vsheet or the likeV bythe machine, the combination comprising: means'on the machinefor carrying theaccount sheetsfin position for receiving typeimpulses and superposed'over .acarbonfbearinggsheet or strip; a plurality of. type'- carrier means Ahaving numerical type Aof orthodox form and per the-mirror image of actuated by the control strip bearing carbon Y front surface of saidV sheet; a plurality Vof type carrier'V Y typing orthodox numerical information on the back of the-sheet,said other plurality of carrier means also having modified alphabetical and numerical type shaped as circuits of the machine responsive to sensing of corrcspondingpunched holes in the punched cardsV 1to apply impressions toV the back surface fof the sheet, which impressions vwhen transmittedv through the sheetwill be in the form-of orthodox characters running from 'left' l'to right Vand lprintable bythe carbon-bearing sheet orl strip onto the front surfaces of the account sheet.

` 9. lIn

sheet or the like byf'the machine, the combinationY come prising: means on'the` machine for feeding thev account sheet-past the position for receiving typeimpulses; means for feeding through the machine a continuous ksheetor or the like for contact with Vthe means having numerical type of orthodox form and adapted 'to' be actuated by the control lcircuits ofthe ma-VV chineY responsive to sensing of such punch holes to type information onto the back surface of such sheet in theV form of orthodox characters'readable from left Vto right; another plurality of type carrier means also havingnur mericaltype of orthodox form adapted for similarly typing orthodox numerical information on the back Yof the sheet, said other plurality of carrier means alsohaving modified alphabetical and numerical type shaped as per the mirror imageroforthodox type and arrangedv to bef actuatedby the control circuitsv of the machine responsive t'ofsensing of" corresponding punched holes in the punched' cardsV to apply impressions to the backVsurface of the sheet; which impressions when transmitted through" the' sheet willbe in the form of'orthodox characters running Vfroml'eft to light landprintable by the carbon-bearing sheet or strip onto the front surfaces of `the account past the area of printing a continuousaperturedmasking n strip interposed between said' sheetl andthe carbon-bearing strip,Y such latter 'feeding'means being so synchronized Withjthe sheet feeding` means that the apertures of the maskingV strip occur at the areas'vv'here said orthodxfcha'rl acters are to be'printedonto the front surfaces Vof the sheets Vandvvh'ereby other areas on said'frontv surfaces are maskedV from contact with the carbon.

10.- In Van electrically operated accounting machine hayingY an'Y inked ribbon and accompanyingv typing means ofV theY character controlled by punched cards having punch holes representative of billing data and of customers addresses: means on the machine Vforv feeding bill. sheets to positions for receiving typed impressions, means for alsoV feeding to said positions Vand in undersaid sheets a con; v

tinuousstrp bearing carbon or the like, further means for feeding Va continuous. apertured masking 'isch-ipv th'rgh the machiil iIL a position interposed between-the billing trol 'circuitsof the machineas if'totypejfrom right to left Y orthodox type'and arranged to be..

an electrically operated` accountingY rnachine'rofv thecharacter controlled by` punched cards having punch Y Y holes representative vof'data tofbe typed onto arr account responsive to sensing of corresponding punch holes in the punched cards representing the customers addresses, and to apply impressions to the back surface of the billing sheet, which impressions are transmitted through the sheet, through said apertures and on to said carbon strip, whereby the carbon causes orthodox address characters readable from left to right to be formed on the front of the sheets.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 and in which there is provided a masking screen movable into and out of an active position between the inked ribbon and the back surfaces of the sheets, and means for automatically moving said screen into its said active position responsive to the location of each aperture of the masking strip at the typing position, such screen serving to prevent typing of the address characters onto the back of the sheets while allowing the address character impressions t0 be transmitted therethrough.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 and in which there is provided a masking screen automatically movable in between the inked ribbon and the sheets when said address characters are being formed, to prevent typing of same on the back of the sheets while permitting the impressions therefor to be transmitted through to the front of the sheets.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,902,060 Dechene Mar. 21, 1933 2,035,768 Sherman Mar. 31, 1936 2,060,190 Foster NOV. l0, 1936 2,111,121 Mills Mar. 15, 1938 2,163,958 Neidch June 27, 1939 2,200,932 Neidch May 14, 1940 2,209,586 Swift July 30, 1940 2,582,149 Newman Jan. 8, 1952 

